Ten Concerts We Can't Forget in 2012

There were too many great performances this year, in venues big and small, by acts local and national, to thoroughly cover within the confines of the page. This year's Dallas Observer Music Awards showcase (self-indulgence alert!) provided some transcendent local sets; we had a wealth of great festival acts to consider; and we were graced with some bucket-list-type touring shows as well. Here are a few that stuck with us.

Erykah Badu & the Cannabinoids,
January 20, Granada Theater

The year started with one of the only full-band Dallas appearances (outside of the Prophet Bar) by Badu, who would spend parts of 2012 embroiled in scandals in Malaysia and Twitter feuds with Wayne Coyne. But back in January, she was in fine form, performing for nearly two hours in a modified pair of ice skates and teasing us with material that we hope will end up on an album soon. AUDRA SCHROEDER

Paul Quiqq

Ronald Shannon Jackson at the Kessler, July 2012

At the Drive-In, April 10, Trees

Who did you love the most during your rebellious, embarrassing teenage years? Was it your parents? A teacher? Siblings? Or was it music that you still hold dear, despite any aural progress you might have made since then? For me, it was At the Drive-In, specifically the seminal Relationship of Command, still my favorite album to stick on in the car after a long, quiet day. Seeing ATDI's second gig back after a long absence was an impossible dream, and the Trees crowd seemed to all feel the same, as absolute chaos abound across the entire venue. The frantic, intense insanity of seeing one of my most dearly beloved bands of the last 15 years make a triumphant return to the stage in a venue they could have sold out 20 times over means this gig will stay with me for a long, long time. GAVIN CLEAVER

Father John Misty, May 25, Sons of Hermann Hall

It's still on the walls at Sons of Hermann Hall. It's coming up through the cracks, like the slime in Ghostbusters 2. I'm talking about Father John Misty, aka J. Tillman, aka sex panther, and the mojo he left all over the place that night. Together, with opener Har Mar Superstar, it was the sexiest dance party of the year, and it began with the promise of being fully-clothed. That ended quickly as FJM thundered "I'm Writing a Novel" and "Only Son of the Ladiesman" under the ocean blue lights. Key note: The show was barely more than an hour. Perfection. NICK RALLO

Ronald Shannon Jackson,
July 7, the Kessler Theater

Ken Shimamoto's summer interview with DFW jazz drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson put a name to regional history, pinpointing why his influence was more than surface for a generation of free-jazz greats. Seeing him at the Kessler with his crew felt like being transported to another time and place. There was reverent silence while they played, as if we were all joining in the psychic prayer. If you were there that night, you know what I mean. AUDRA SCHROEDER

Reggie Watts, September 1,
North Texas Fairgrounds

Hot Wet Mess ushered in a handful of amazing performances this past September, but chief among them was Reggie Watts. The improv beatboxer put on a dizzying show as he meandered from subject to subject and spoke in various accents. During an impromptu poetry session, Reggie told the tale of a small village named Denton, which was at one point defeated in battle after summoning an evil force called Grevlar. The whole village was laid to waste, although its maps and blueprints were stored safely on a cloud server, so it was easy to rebuild. During his hour-long set, Watts even gave a shout out to Denton's Atomic Tanlines and Deep Throat. RACHEL WATTS

Action Bronson, September 23, Dada

It's a great feeling when a show sneaks up on you and crushes both your expectations and your entire year's worth of show-going experiences. I walked into the Action Bronson show at Dada in September expecting a great night. Bronson is not scared of lyrical heavy-lifting, and his smart verse and biting humor have helped cultivate a character I want to eat dinner and snuggle with. But some kind of magic beyond even Bronson's immense talent was at work that Sunday in Deep Ellum. A clear gathering of engaged fans and a lyricist willing to get in my face with a message made the night a memorable one. Being twirled under his arm as he walked through the crowd made me blush. Watching him order a drink from the bar, on the mic mid-set, made me laugh. Listening to him rip through Riff Raff's guest verse on "Bird on a Wire" delighted me. And watching Bronson walk out the front door of the club, rapping his last words as he disappeared down Elm Street, made it all feel like an apparition. Three months later, I am still haunted. DEB DOING DALLAS

Christeene, September 28, Double Wide

I can't remember the last time I attended a sold-out show at Double Wide, but Austin performer Christeene made it happen one night in late September. We were all willing hostages that night, packed into the small space as she threw onions and sex toys into the crowd and terrorized us with her scraped-knee electro-trash. Note to bookers: She needs to come back to a bigger venue. AUDRA SCHROEDER